Container and cap therefor



Nov. 9, 1965 s. J. KOLL 3,216,602

CONTAINER AND CAP THEREFOR Filed March 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q STA/v45) J K044 INVENTOR.

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Nov. 9, 1965 s. J. KOLL CONTAINER AND CAP THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26, 1962 STANLEY J. KoLL INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,216,602 CONTAINER AND CAP THEREFOR Stanley J. Koll, Keansburg, N..l., assignor to American Flange & Manufacturing Co. Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 182,599 2 Claims. (Cl. 215-46) This invention relates to containers and closures therefor and particularly to such closures or caps as are used in the sealing of bottles and the like.

The subject of this invention is an improvement over the type of closure commonly referred to as the crown seal which is used the world over in the capping of such containers as soda bottles, beer bottles, metal cans and numerous other containers where it is unnecessary to recap the container once it is initially opened. Among the requirements which a closure of this type must meet are: first the cap must be economical to manufacture, second the applying operation must be economically competitive and still provide a tight seal against any possible leakage and third, the cap must be easily removable. Crow seals have over the years proved very satisfactory in some respects and very unsatisfactory in others. Crown seals are economical to manufacture and when properly applied will withstand pressures up to 125 psi. This figure naturally allows a substantial safety factor but it should be pointed out that many bottled liquids such as beer or soda will build up a substantial pressure under certain conditions. However, crown seals in a great many instances are very difficult to remove. The average housewive, even using the most deluxe model can opener, quite frequently encounters difficulty in attempting to uncap a bottle. In fact, her attempts not infrequently may terminate in a request to her husband to complete the operation, which as can be readily appreciated, may not always be a pleasant solution to the problem. Furthermore 'the lip of glass bottles is often broken in the opening operation which renders the entire contents unusable because of the likelihood of a glass splinter falling into the container. This rather cumbersome opening operation therefor limits the use of this type of cap to a relatively small opening in many applications where a larger opening might be more desirable otherwise. For example, it is very difiicult to get a smooth rapid flow of liquid out of a bottle having a small opening due to the fact that the interior of the bottle is not properly vented. Drinking out of such a bottle is bothersome because of the venting problem and also, if the drinker puts the entire bottle lip in his mouth, he is subjecting himself to numerous germs, etc. which may be present on the bottle. Further, the mere inconvenience of always having to have a bottle opening implement available is enough in itself to demonstrate the crying need for an improvement in this field.

Applicant has solved these and numerous other problems by providing a new and improved bottle lip formation which has an internally scored lightweight metal cap crimped thereon. A portion of the cap can be simply torn away enabling removal thereof and access to the contents of the container.

The provision of scoring in closure caps to facilitate destruction and removal of the same has heretofore been generally practiced. In the bottle and small container art however caps so scored, for removal by hand gripping and tearing a tear strip, have only been applied where the build up of internal pressure was insignificant. In larger containers, where internal pressure might be somewhat of a factor, the caps employed, though scored for destruction and removal, have been made of sufficiently thick and strong metal that the use of pliers or other tool is needed for gripping the tearing ears.

3,216,602 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 The instant invention, however, does what has not heretofore been done. It enables the capping of small containers, where substantial internal pressure must be contained by caps which though adequate to withstand high pressures can nevertheless be removed by hand gripping a tearing ear and tearing along score lines. Furthermore the caps of the invention, though scored internally for tearing, are gasketed in a manner which, when taken in conjunction with the particular lip formation of the container, prevents leakage even under substantial pres sure.

It is accordingly a principal object of this invention to provide a new and improved container lip and sealing cap combination.

Another object is to provide an improved container lip formation which will greatly improve the sealability of a cap thereto.

Another object is to provide a tamper-proof metal cap which is crimped on a container lip and requires no tool or implement for its removal.

A more detailed object is to provide container lip formation wherein the seating effect of a cap applied thereto increases with increase in internal pressure exerted upon the cap.

Further and more detailed objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, proceeds.

In that drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the container and cap in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is atop plan View of the cap alone.

FIG. 3 is an exploded vertical section of the cap and container lip.

FIG. 4 is an elevation, partly in section similar to FIG. 3 with the cap crimped on the lip.

FIG. 5 is a partial vertical section of the lip formation and cap greatly enlarged with internal pressure applied to the cap.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the cap and container neck with the cap partially torn oil? of the lip.

FIG. '7 is a vertical section of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a vertical section of the preferred form of cap.

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8 of a modified gasket arrangement.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary section taken on lines 10-10 of FIG. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

The main parts of the invention as shown broadly in FIG. 1 are a container 1, a neck portion 2, a lip formation 3, and a cap indicated generally at 4. The container as embodied here may take any of a number of forms and be manufactured from several materials. For example, the instant invention is contemplated for use in the field of bottles and bottle caps such as are used in sale of soda, beer, milk, etc. However such containers can well be and are also manufactured from material or plastic so the term bottle is not to be construed here in a material limiting sense. Also the size of opening contemplated could have a wide range of sizes beyond that which is commonly employed by the present widely accepted crown seals.

The cap 4, as shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, has a disc-like top 5, a laterally extending skirt 6, a gasket 7 and a gripping ear 8. As shown in FIG. 2, the cap 4 has a pair of internal score lines 9, see FIGS. 8 and 10, which extend from either side of the tearing ear 8, vertically up the skirt portion 6, as indicated at 10, across the juncture between the skirt 6 and the top 5, and then extend across the top 5. This scoring is to facilitate tearing of the cap by simply gripping the ear 8 with ones fingers and pulling upwardly. The type of gasket employed here is of the type which is flowed into the cap while in a liquid state and subsequently cured at an elevated temperature to form a permanent resilient gasket. Such a gasket adheres to the inner surface of the cap and also flows into the'V-shape score lines and thus eliminating any leakageat the score. Also the need for interrupting the score where the gasket crosses it is eliminated, which, as can be seen, would greatly impede the tearing action. The tearing ear 8 extends downwardly away from the skirt 6, as indicated at 11, and has an annular raised portion 12 thereon to enable a persons fingers to better grip theear. Obviously this gripping portion could takeany suitable configuration. The cap itself is preferably manufactured from a lightweight metal such as aluminum so as to have the necesasry strength required and yet'capable of being easily torn 'away without the use of pliers or some other'implement.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the instant invention contemplates a new and improved container lip formation which is believed to be a substantial advance over any of the prior art arrangements in existence. The shape of the'container 1 and neck 2 can be of any desired configuration and are described here only as supporting structure for the novel lip formation indicated generally at 3. FIG. '3 shows the container neck 2 extending vertically into an annular recess 20 which forms the bottom portion ofthe lip formation. The lip continues vertically in a cylindrical wall portion 21 which has an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the cap skirt 6 so as to allow the latter to fit snugly around the lip formation. The lip continues then into an upper annular concave recess portion 22 which leads into the upper rim 23 of the lip. Following the contour of the lip, it then curves into a vertical portion forming the inside surface thereof and then follows the desired configuration of the neck. FIG. 4 shows the cap crimped onto the lip and here it can be observed that the lower annular recess 20 serves as a holding means for the lower skirt portion 13 which is formed into the recess 20 by suitable means such as crimping rollers which apply the cap to the container. The cylindrical wall 21 effectively separates the upper annular recess 22 and the lower annular recess 20 and also acts as a backup portion for the cap skirt 6 in this area. Still looking at FIG. 4, the upper annular recess 22 is shown supporting the major portion of the gasket 7. The radius of curvature of the gasket is slightly greater than that of the concave recess 22 so that the gasket is compressed when the cap is drawn down over the lip. The gasket ends abruptly at a point adjacent the lower edge 23 of recess 22 because a tighter seal results if the cap is allowed to conform exactly to the configuration of the lip below this point. However, the gasket 7 does extend slightly beyond the upper edge 24 of the recess 22. This gasket portionis indicated at 25 and the reason therefor will be subsequently described.

The arrangement as set forth above forms a very desirable seal which is due partly to its neat appearance and its advantageous structural characteristics but the real improvement in this closure is its inherent tendency to improve its sealability when an internal pressure is applied thereto. This new and inventive concept is illustrated in detail in FIG. wherein a cap and container in accordance with this invention have an internal pressure applied thereto. Under this pressure the cap will crown outwardly and hence the cap skirt 6 will tend to move slightly in the direction A due to a force in that direction. The force A is shown broken up into horizontal and vertical components B and C respectively. The vertical component C will be opposed by the lower annular'recess 20 acting against the upward pull of the lower skirt portion 13. The horizontal component B tends to force the gasket 7 into tighter engagement with the annular recess 22 and hence the effectiveness of the seal is increased as the internal pressure increases up to a predetermined amount. Further, movement of the cap skirtin-the--direction A- will also be retarded due to the braking or restraining action of the gasket portion 25 as it is forced through the restriction caused by the cap portion 14 behind the gasket area 25 and the upper edge 24 of the annular recess 22. It is, therefore, obvious that when the cap assumes its stressed position with respect to the lip, the cap will provide a tighter seal rather than a poorer seal as is usually the case. In summary these three factors: (1) the holding of thecrimped skirt portion 13 by recess 20 against the vertical force C (2) the forcing-of the gasket 7 into the recess 22 due to the horizontal component B and, (3) the braking action imposed on the cap by the gasket portion 25 being forced through the restriction formed by the cap and the upper edge 24 of the upper annular recess portion, cooperate to achieve an improvement in the art not heretofore known.

As described earlier and as shown clearly in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cap is removed from the container by simply pulling up on the tearing ear 8 as the tear strip tears along the divergent score lines 9, the two sections 26, 27 pull away from the lip formation rendering thecap easily removable.

FIG. 8 illustrates a modifiedform of gasket wherein the gasket material is flowed overthe entire central portion of a cap resulting in a thin membrane 30 which will protect the contents of the cont-ainer=fromdirect contact with the undersurface of thecap.

The cap of the instant invention provides an extremely effective seal and, besides being tamper-proo f, can be removed with remarkable ease without the aidof any tools or implements.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that substantial improvement is introduced into the closure art, particularly as applied to containers presently employing closures of the crown seal type. It will be apparent, however, the invention is not necessarily limitedby the form illustrated and described but encompasses also such other embodiments as might suggest themselves to one skilled in the art.

Having described my invention what I claim is new and seek to obtain Letters Patent for is:

1. In closure construction for containers, a container neck having an opening therethrough, said neck'comprising a single laterally extending peripheral lip formation, said lip formation located at the uppermost end of said neck and including a top surface, an upper concave annular recess having upper and lower ends and an intermediate surface, the upper and lower ends of said recess, as viewed in vertical cross-section, lying ina plane extending downwardly and outwardly at an acute angle from the longitudinal axis of said neck, a peripherally continuous outwardly facing surface extending downwardly from the lower end of said concave surfaceand a lower surface extending downwardly and inwardly from said outwardly facing surface to a meeting position with said neck, a lightweight hand tearable metal cap sealingly engaged about said lip formation, said cap having a disc-like top and a peripheral skirt extending downwardly from said top, said skirt having an upper gasket receiving portion and a lower radially inwardly formed securing portion, a gasket having a rounded cross-sectional configuration formed in situ at the juncture of said skirt and said top, said gasket-having a greater radius of curvature in vertical cross-section than said concave recess with said entire recess being in direct underlying engagement with said gasket, said gasket extending radial ly inwardly slightly beyond the upper edge of said upper concave recess and compressed between said cap to and said top surface of said lip, the interior surface of said lower skirt portion being in direct continuous engagement about the entire said lower downwardly and inwardly extending lip surface and said skirt terminating in a downwardly facing free edge adjacent said neck.

2. In a closure construction for containers comprising a container having an opening therein and an upwardly extending neck portion surrounding said opening and' terminating in a laterally extending peripheral lip formation including an integral radially outwardly extending annular upper edge, a concave annular recess having upper and lower ends and an intermediate surface, the upper and lower ends of said recess, as viewed in vertical crosssection, lying in a plane extending downwardly and outwardly at an acute angle from the longitudinal axis of said neck, the upper end of said recess being formed as a continuation of said upper edge, a peripherally continuous outwardly facing surface extending downwardly from the lower end of said concave surface and a lower surface extending downwardly and inwardly from said outwardly facing surface to a meeting position with said neck, a lightweight hand tearahle metal cap sealingly engaged about said lip formation, said cap having a disc-like top and a peripheral skirt extending downwardly from said top, said skirt having an upper gasket receiving portion and a lower radially inwardly formed securing portion, a gasket for compressing between said gasket receiv ing portion and said recess and having a rounded crosssectional configuration formed in situ at the juncture of said skirt and said top, said gasket in its uncompressed condition having a slightly greater radius of curvature in vertical cross-section than said concave recess so as to result in compression of said gasket when said cap is sealingly engaged about said lip formation, said gasket having a major thickness thereof compressed between said skirt gasket receiving portion and said concave recess and a gasket portion of lesser thickness extending radially inwardly slightly beyond the upper end of said concave recess and compressed between said cap top and said upper edge of said lip formation, said extending gasket portion acting between said skirt and said upper edge to exert a restraining action against upward movement of the cap skirt when said cap top is subjected to internal pressure, the interior surface of said lower skirt portion being in direct continuous engagement about the entire said lower downwardly and inwardly extending lip surface and said skirt terminating in a downwardly facing free ege adjacent said neck.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,842,429 1/32 Scofield 2l5--40 2,068,444 1/ 37 Breckenbridge 215-46 2,327,454 8/43 Punte 215-39 2,445,647 7/48 Thomas 21540 2,733,827 2/56 Foye 2l540 3,092,280 6/63 Ford 21540 3,130,056 4/64 Taylor et a1 215-46 X FOREIGN PATENTS 524,273 11/53 Belgium.

429,098 7/11 France. 1,009,458 5/52 France.

491,951 3/54 Italy.

517,613 1/55 Italy.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

EARLE J. DRUMMOND, Examiner. 

1. IN CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION FOR CONTAINERS, A CONTAINER NECK HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH, SAID NECK COMPRISING A SINGLE LATERALLY EXTENDING PERIPHERAL LIP FORMATION, SAID LIP FORMATION LOCATED AT THE UPPERMOST END OF SAID NECK AND INCLUDING A TOP SURFACE, AN UPPER CONCAVE ANNULAR RECESS HAVING UPPER AND LOWER ENDS AND AN INTERMEDIATE SURFACE, THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS OF SAID RECESS, AS VIEWED IN VERTICAL CROSS-SECTION, LYING IN A PLANE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY AT AN ACUTE ANGLE FROM THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID NECK, A PERIPHERALLY CONTINUOUS OUTWARDLY FACING SURFACE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE LOWER END OF SAID CONCAVE SURFACE AND A LOWER SURFACE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY FROM SAID OUTWARDLY FACING SURFACE TO A MEETING POSITION WITH SAID NECK, A LIGHTWEIGHT HAND TEARABLE METAL CAP SEALINGLY ENGAGED ABOUT SAID LIP FORMATION, SAID CAP HAVING A DISC-LIKE TOP AND A PERIPHERAL SKIRT EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID TOP, SAID SKIRT HAVING AN UPPER GASKET RECEIVING PORTION AND A LOWER RADIALLY INWARDLY FORMED SECURING PORTION, A GASKET HAVING A ROUNDED CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION FORMED IN SITU AT THE JUNCTURE OF SAID SKIRT AND SAID TOP, SAID GASKET HAVING A GREATER RADIUS OF CURVATURE IN VERTICAL CROSS-SECTION THAN SAID CONCAVE RECESS WITH SAID ENTIRE RECESS BEING IN DIRECT UNDERLYING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID GASKET, SAID GASKET EXTENDING RADIALLY INWARDLY SLIGHTLY BEYOND THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID UPPER CONCAVE RECESS AND COMPRESSED BETWEEN SAID CAP TOP AND SAID TOP SURFACE OF SAID LIP, THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID LOWER SKIRT PORTION BEING IN DIRECT CONTINUOUS ENGAGEMENT ABOUT THE ENTIRE SAID LOWER DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY EXTENDING LIP SURFACE AND SAID SKIRT TERMINATING IN A DOWNWARDLY FACING FREE EDGE ADJACENT SAID NECK. 